The remake no one wanted, ABC’s 3-hour interpretation of the classic 1987 flick Dirty Dancing, will be lacking the cameo I’m sure producers were clamoring for. Jennifer Grey, who starred with Patrick Swayze in the 1987 coming of age story, has refused a role in the television remake. The remake features Abagail Breslin as Baby, Colt Prattes attempting to replace Patrick Swayze (can’t be done, sorry) and Debra Messing as Baby’s mama. One name you’re not going to see this fall is Jennifer’s, as she turned down a role in the reboot.
The 56-year-old actress discussed her decision during a Television Critics Association panel for Red Oaks, the Amazon comedy series on which she stars. She came off as very diplomatic about the remake, but you can sense she knows a bad idea when she sees one.
“I was asked to do something on that show and I was flattered because I always want to be asked because it’s nice to want to be included. But for me, it would be sacrosanct for me to do it because it didn’t feel appropriate to me. It feels like if you’re going to do your own thing, do your own thing. I wouldn’t say [what role was offered] but I will tell you, it wasn’t Baby!”
“I am always interested in any iteration of something where they feel there’s more to be gotten and I would love to see what it is that they come up with. Tommy Kail [Hamilton] directed it and I’m obsessed with Hamilton, so that’s thrilling to me. I think they’ve got wonderful actors in it. I’m going to be watching it and I’m excited. My only advice is to own it for yourself because we all just do our interpretation and I’m only flattered and excited for people who are excited enough to put their stamp on it and see what they make of it and how they make it their own.”
In addition, Jennifer fondly remembered her Dirty Dancing co-star, Patrick Swayze, calling him “fearless” and noting that “He smelled really good, his skin was really nice. He was really strong and he was very protective and his heart was very much in it.” I bet Patrick smelled amazing, like fresh baked chocolate chip cookies and/or puppy breath. He always stuck me as that kind of guy. I still miss him. Oh, and Jennifer summed up the 1980s with one, perfect, sentence, “The fashion was terrible, the hair was terrible, but the music was great.” Acid washed jeans, scrunch spray and Corey Hart. Yup, that’s the 80s to me.
I think Jennifer definitely made the right move here, especially because, at least here in Celebitchy Land, no one seems very excited about this childhood memory-ruining project. Oh, and how have I not heard of Red Oaks? It’s set in the 80s and it sounds great. Looks like I have a new show to binge watch. One last thing, I did not know until today that Jennifer was married to Avengers/Agents of SHIELD‘s Clark Gregg. They make such a cute couple!
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Photo credit: Getty Images, Fame Flynet, WENN.com
They so make a cute couple. And wise decision to turn down the remake.
I miss Patrick Swayze. Sat next to him at a dance performance at a small, off the beaten track venue. We chatted about the show, he was lovely, engaged, and insightful.
Didn’t they also remake Point Break recently? Lots of Swayze nostalgia out there…
Oh my gosh, did not know that was the same person!
Yeah, I know. Her nose job changed the way she looks so much.
She has said she regretted it, too. :\
She made a wise choice to turn it down. She has love for him now that she has matured. They did not get along filming Red Dawn and Dirty Dancing. During her stint on DWTS, however, she seemed to have made peace and spoke lovingly about him. He was the star, he owned it. Road House as well. Great guy gone too soon.
Yeah, the production company got worried because the ill feelings (she didn’t want him cast) were causing delays..it’s said they only had chemistry when they danced. This remake idea made the rounds years ago..guess it took a while to sell it.
I know. When she was gushing over Patrick on DWTS, his widow said hmm I didn’t realize she was so close to Patrick. But it’s in the past, she was young and I think it’s a smart choice not to take a part. That movie should not be remade, it was a classic. She should have left her nose alone, that’s what made her unique and after surgery, she virtually vanished from the scene.
Yes, glad Jennifer is talking about why the original Dirty Dancing was so special. But yeah, my BFF’s cousin directed Dirty Dancing (he’s passed now), she always said that her cousin had issues trying to get Jennifer and Patrick to work together cohesively during filming. Whatever happened between them on the Red Dawn set really affected the DD set. Whatever problems they had, DD is still a classic and I’m not interested in the ‘remake.’
Emile Ardolino was the director! I remember him because he directed my other favorite movie, Sister Act. Kenny Ortega (High School Musical) was the choreographer. Yup the late 80’s early 90’s had good movies.
I remember reading Patrick Swayze’s bio and he acknowledged he and Jennifer had issues during filming but they made peace later. I think it was more forgive and forget than holding a grudge.
I still miss Swayze!
Hey now, the 80s brought us much more than Corey Hart, lol. As a teen in the 80s, discovering alternative music, like unknowns REM and U2, felt magical. I still love it all.
My college roommates and I used to hate watch Dirty Dancing in college but I can appreciate it now. I like how Grey said those involved in the remake should work to make it their own. But unless she was joking, her comment about not being asked to be Baby was odd, though. What did she expect?
She could have been an adult Baby while Abagail Breslin would play a different character.
“The fashion was terrible, the hair was terrible, but the music was great.”
i never got to experience the 80s because i’m a 1989’s child, but growing up i watched lots of 80s movies so i kinda feel like i lived through it anyway. totally agree on the music, but tbh i think even the fashion was amazing, some of the stuff i wear now has a real 80s feel. agreed on the hair, although molly ringwald’s bob was super pretty, imo.
i’m not a massive fan of dirty dancing though, it’s one my least fav 80s films.
I’m not either. I don’t want to say its overrated, but I expected a lot more from it when I saw it (’88 baby, btw!). Ditto The Breakfast Club. They aren’t the worst movies, but there are better ones to define the 80s by.
Wise choice, don’t ruin a movie that was perfect for its time.
Agreed. I don’t know why, but I find it somewhat offensive and disrepectful to even consider a remake.
I love Patrick. I heard he smoked a lot. That sadly ruined what I thought he smelled like!
Gone too soon. Jennifer Grey and hubby are adorable. She is one of those rare nose job people who become unrecognizable. Crazy! Love her smarts to stay out of the remake. I guess Debra messing needs the job.
Controversial opinion – I liked Havana Nights much more than the original.
I didnt like it more than the first one, but I love it too!!!! I dont get all the hate…. The soundtrack is amazing!
Shut your mouth!
Isn’t this not a remake? Isn’t this the live TV broadcast of the musical, which has been around for a while? Like NBC did with The Wiz, Grease and Sound of Music?
Until Swayze passed away, I always hoped for a Dirty Dancing sequel where Baby and Johnny reunited later in life and rekindled their love.
I guess I’ll have to write myself some fan fiction for that now. I miss him!
I’m just glad Red Oaks is coming back. Love that show.
That super hunky type never appealed to me, but I made an exception for Swayze. He was so hot in Dirty Dancing. Every time he lifted her and you’d see his biceps ripple… Madonn’. Gone too soon!
It can’t be redone successfully IMO. There were too many great actors and actresses to replace with this generation. That does’t mean there aren’t plenty of good young actresses and actors out there right now, but those characters have already been played by a fantastic talented group. I really think any reboot would not do the original justice nor would it be good for their careers. I especially think of Gary Orbach. I loved him. Who is Baby w/out Daddy Orbach? And the sister played by Jane Brucker who I never saw in anything else….that scene of her singing hula lula or whatever…..that can’t be redone and the movie is less without it. Some movies need to be left alone.
That’s Jerry Orbach – Lumiere of Beauty and the Beast fame for those of you who did not see DD in its first theatrical run. Yup no one can replace Jerry O. He was great.
Jane Brucker I saw in an early Grey’s Anatomy epi. She was the attorney who had a brain tumor.
l can’t believe that’s Jennifer! She looks like a completely different person from the girl who acted in Dirty Dancing.
Jennifer is wise to stay out of that mess. I won’t be seeing the remake. As much as I liked Abigail Breslin in Little Miss Sunshine, she’s grown up to look more jaded than Baby would be. Maybe it’s her character in scream queens? Maybe it’s that overprocessed hair? Either way Abigail lost a lot of joy on the screen.
I also don’t think the new Johnny Castle is comparable to Patrick Swayze. I remember there was a post here with pics of the new guy and he does nothing for me.
Yup I knew Jennifer was married to agent Coulson since he was always in the audience during DWTS. Another tidbit. Agent Coulson co-wrote What Lies Beneath – the movie by Michelle Pffeifer and Harrison Ford. That was a good movie!